Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Blah!
A/N: A lot of apologies are in order. A lot of crap happened to me. And I can't pinpoint the exact time my life got so damn dramatic! Any way so sorry and enjoy. Song is not mine, it is Nobody's home by Avril Lavigne; I suggest you listen to that song even if you don't like Avril, it's a great song Hear it online either here http/music. you need a yahoo account or here http/ login, go to search for amv's, supersearch and put in musical artist and song title and there's a bunch for this song plus AMV's are always great.
Homecoming Court
By Red Eclipse
Chapter 14: It's only just beginning
Part 3: Bag Trip
Kagome splashed water over her face and braced herself on the sink. She felt nauseous and the scars on her stomach were burning. Like thinking of them stirred up the old pain and reminded her of the current pain. She took in several sharp breaths for a few minutes before she pushed herself straight up again. She turned her head when she heard the door open behind her. A girl with brown hair stepped into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror next to Kagome. She started to mess with her hair but looked at Kagome who was standing still tears threatening to burst from her eyes. The girl turned and looked at Kagome. "Are you okay?" The girl asked Kagome. Kagome's first reaction was to shake her head, but she turned to the girl and gave her a weak smile tears prickling her eyes. She nodded and went to the paper towel dispenser. She took one and wiped her eyes with the abrasive towel. She collected her bag and walked to the door. The girl was watching her as she pushed the door open and walked out the door, but she said nothing.
When Kagome was outside the sheer size of the population hit her. There were rides a Ferris wheel and heart seats that spun around psychotically in a kiddy park. There were a few other things but they didn't matter. She had no idea where to start looking for Inuyasha or Sango. She started to make her way toward the crowd. Someone was calling her name. She heard the voice but she couldn't tell where it was coming from. "Kagome! Kagome! Over here!" Gee thanks floating voice that helped a lot. She looked around lost and then she saw him. His long black curly hair and his cold chilling eyes. His lips were turned up in a smirk. She was frozen to her spot, she couldn't move if she waned to. Like a snake paralyzes his victim so was his gaze on Kagome. He seemed to dissipate into the crowd. A hand touched her and she jumped. "Kagome remember me?" The voice from moments ago asked right bedside her. She realized Naraku hadn't called her name it had been Hojo standing next to her now, but she was meant to see him. Oh how she wanted to kill him. He made her lose one brother, Souta was out there somewhere and it hurt to think he might be hurting. And even more it hurt to think of her family because it led to thoughts of her father, and she almost lost her twin brother. When she thought of everything her chest swelled and she pushed air out of her chest and she wanted to pull at her skin until everything was gone. Like in summer when it is really hot and you can't get comfortable and you throw your sheet off and you contort your body into weird positions trying to scrape everything off.
"Hi Hojo. I didn't know you went here." She said throwing all thoughts off of her. She was grateful to not be alone anymore. He hugged her.
"I just transferred here. I forgot you went here. I never thought I'd see you again." He let her go finally and smiled. She smiled at him too.
"Me neither." In truth she forgot about him. Awkward.
"So how have you been?"
"I've been," What are you supposed to say here? "Great. You?"
"I've been great too."
She smiled buying time. Thinking what to say next. Friendly banter was done. This is where personal things are supposed to be questioned.
"Do you still talk to Aya?" He asked,
Who? "No I haven't talked to her in ages."
"Oh really that's too bad."
"Do you remember Sango?"
"Oh yeah I remember her. You and her were inseparable. Does she go here too?"
"Yeah I was looking for her and another friend of mine."
"Oh who?" what a nosy bastard.
"Inuyasha. I don't think you know him."
"So you have a boyfriend now?" Nosy nosy nosy.
"Well no, not really."
"Maybe we could get together sometime. Go for coffee or a movie sometime."
Shit crap, fuck. "Uh yeah I guess so. Well I gotta get back to looking for my friends, I'll talk to you later Hojo."
"Bye Kagome. Has your number changed?"
"Did I ever give you my cell number?"
"No just your house number."
"Oh then yeah I'm temporarily living with Sango. I'll give you my number later. I really have to go."
"Okay bye Kagome." To her discontent he hugged her again and lingered for quite a while before he let her go. When he finally broke away from her Kagome all but ran away from him. Stopping only to look back and cringe. "I should have said I had a boyfriend How am I gonna get out of this Dammit?" She said to herself as she headed to the crowd.
As she passed the area where she had seen Naraku, she looked over wearily, half expecting him to pop out and grab her. When she passed successfully it only flamed her suspicions.
Inuyasha sat cross-legged on the middle of the stage in the quad. They call it a stage but it's really only a 20-foot slab of cement barely raised off the ground. He was pissing off most of the regular clique groups that hang out on that thing. People were mad dogging him, but he wouldn't budge. His idea was that he could see everyone who went by in the quad. His mind kept wandering to all that Naraku had said to him and showed him. Miroku had been right the deadline set was approaching. Too fast for Inuyasha's taste. And what Naraku had was worse than anything he could have imagined. He could have sworn he'd seen him on the campus today, but now he couldn't find him. He scanned the quad again for her; it made him nervous not knowing where she was with Naraku there, somewhere lurking in the shadows.
From the corner of his eye he spotted her walking from a bathroom. He watched as she stopped and looked around her. She froze starring at something. Then she jumped when another guy touch her, apparently throwing her off guard. He growled as the guy hugged her and she let him. They stood there talking for a while. Then before parting he hugged her again, and lingered in her embrace. When se was broken away from him se started to walk toward the quad but stopped and looked back. His heart fell. She continued walking toward the quad looking suspiciously to her right into a crowd of people. She stopped and looked around when she reached the edge of the quad. She scanned it for a familiar face. He wasn't going to make himself noticeable to her. Besides she had just answered his question for him.
Kagome spotted him on her own. Her heart swelled when she saw him sitting in the middle of the stage, pissing everyone off. She wanted to run toward him but she calmly walked. She stopped in front of him and said, "Hi." With a big grin on her face. He looked up and nodded his head in recognition. When she saw he wasn't going to do anything else she sat down next to him on the stage. His face didn't change so she took his hand trying to shake him out of his mood. "Inuyasha what's wrong?" She asked in a calm slow voice. It seemed like he wasn't going to say a word and for a while he didn't. Then he looked her right in the eye suddenly, "I saw Naraku." He said.
"I know I did too." She nodded. He stared mystified.
"You saw him?"
"Yeah when I came out of the bathroom I saw him but he dissipated into the crowd. He didn't do anything but stare at me. Seemed like a warning of some kind." He grimaced at her words. Images Naraku showed him flashed through his mind. Words written on paper reports, witness accounts of a gruesome abandonment of humanity and compassion. He couldn't bring himself to say a word to her. He put a hand on her face suddenly. Her eyes widened. He cupped his hand on her cheek and just cradled it there. Her life was in his hand. The life of her mother and even her brothers was in his hands. He knew he had to swallow his pride and do everything for them. He owed it to them. To her.
"Don't worry about him. I'll take care of it."
They had left the stage together. Happy little clique people took back their spots happily, glaring as they walked off together. Kagome led Inuyasha to a ramen booth where he shoved to the front and took most of their stock and Kagome raided the brownie booth. They made their way to the loser spot and happily sat eating their claim. Kagome rested her head on Inuyasha's shoulder happily. He looked up and raised an eyebrow then went back to eating his ramen. After a while Kagome stood up and said she was going to the bathroom. Inuyasha mumbled, "Be careful." And she nodded. As she walked to the bathroom she looked up at the 800 building and there she saw Sango sitting by herself. Kagome sighed and went for the stairs.
She went up three flights to the fourth floor and saw Sango sitting cross-legged at the edge of the ramp starring down silently puncturing the little groups of people with her downward gaze. First Kagome didn't want to disturb her, but then she heard the quiet sobs emanating from her friend and she couldn't take it. She ran to Sango and sat down by her. Sango turned to her, tears streaming down her face and fell into Kagome's arms sobbing into her. Kagome stroked her hair as her body shook violently with the sobs. They rocked back and forth. Silently comforting the crying girl. Then Sango sat up. "I need a bathroom." She said rubbing at her eyes. Kagome nodded and helped Sango up.
She led her toward the stairs and to the second floor where there was a bathroom. She held the door open for Sango who went right to the sinks. The wet a towel and rubbed at her eyes furiously. Kagome watched her with sad eyes. She knew Sango's pain and she hated seeing it displayed in a way she knew Sano hated. Sango didn't like to appear weak. She never let things like this show. But this was good for her.
"I'm sorry Kagome. That you had to see that." She said piteously.
"Don't be sorry Sango, I understand. You can beak down in front of me whenever you need to." Sango stared at her after the words left her mouth. She seemed to nod taking the information in. Kagome smiled sincerely and Sango smiled back sobbing a little more. Then she stopped suddenly and dried her eyes again. She took up her bag and walked toward the door. Kagome followed her and they went toward the stairs. Kagome stopped realizing she didn't have her bag. She told Sango to go on without her.
She went back to the bathroom and opened the door. "Oh yeah I left my stuff with Inuyasha." She turned to leave but she was grabbed before she got to the door, She struggled to get her arm free but was clamped down firmly. A towel was put in front of her face. There was a thick chemical smell; she knew what it was instantly. Chloroform. Her sight was blurring everything was going fuzzy. The last thing she heard was her phone ringing.
Sango waited b the stars for Kagome. It didn't' make sense that it would take five minutes to grab her stuff. So she went back to the bathroom and pushed the door open.
"Kagome! Kagome are you in here?" She called. It was pointless anyone could tell there was no one in there. Kagome's bag wasn't in there and neither was Kagome. Sango looked around for a minute. Her concentration was thrown off when her cell phone rang and vibrated on her pocket. She pulled it out and looked at the number. 'Inuyasha' it said. She flipped it open and put it to her ear. "Hey what's up?" She asked trying to camouflage her concern.
"Is Kagome with you?" He asked with a very impatient voice.
"No, I don't know where she is. She went back to the bathroom to get her stuff and then when it was taking so long I went in there and she wasn't there."
"What! You are fucking kidding me Dammit!"
"No, I'm not I'm really worried."
"Well that's a good thing because Naraku is somewhere on campus and he saw Kagome."
"No. Oh Shit."
"Yeah really. Where were you guys?"
"800 building 2nd floor."
"I'll be there in a second."
Sango hung up and leaned over the sides watching for him. He appeared around the side of the building running for all he was worth, shoving through groups of people in the process. He flew up the stairs three at a time.
"What do we do?" Sango asked desperately. Inuyasha stared at the door to the bathroom for a moment.
"Call Ayame and Kouga. With more people we can search better." He stopped and glared at two guys carrying a duffel bag. He'd seen them before but the bag had looked empty now it looked full. They emerged from a classroom. Inuyasha ran toward the door and caught it before it shut. He peered inside and saw no teacher so he pulled the door open and stepped inside. He flipped the light switch, flooding the room with white florescent lights. He looked up and remembered Kagome's stay in the hospital. He closed the door behind him and looked at the lock. There was a metal tool, used to force locks open, abandoned on the ground. He picked it up and stared at it. He knew what it was instantly; he had one in his own pocket always with him. He walked around the classroom looking for any sign that Kagome had been there. All he found were red fibers probably from the bag. He went toward the door and left the room.
Next he went to the girl's bathroom and shoved the door open. To his luck there were no girls currently in the room. He scanned the room and instantly noticed the bunched up towel in the trashcan. He pulled it out and sniffed it. He knew the smell it was chloroform. He took the towel out with him when he returned next to Sango. She hung up her phone and looked at him with sad eyes. He held the towel out to her and she stared at it. "What's that?" She asked.
"Smell it." She did and took it away from her nose gagging.
"What is that?"
"Chloroform."
"Chloroform, Oh no Kagome."
"Yeah this definitely is Naraku's doing."
When Kagome came to she felt very uncomfortable. She was crammed into a tiny space and she felt like she was thrown over someone's shoulder. She was sure she was moving but she couldn't pinpoint where she was. Soon enough she was dropped heavily onto the ground and what sounded like a zipper opened and light was on her. She was pulled out of the bag roughly and she stood in front of the two guys she'd seen when she left fifth period. She noticed she was in a bathroom. She didn't like this situation at all. The second se realized she wasn't tied she took off toward the door. One moved to stop her but she slapped his hand away. The other one had already cut down on her path and had her arm-twisted behind her.
"Are you going to be a good little girl or am I going to have to use this?" He held out a syringe and squeezed some of the liquid inside out. It hit Kagome's
Cheek and she ried to pull out of his grip but he twisted the arm to a worse angle. She cried out in pain. "If you're gonna be difficult you leave me no choice." He took the sringe with his free hand and jammed it into her arm roughly. Her jerking made it worse. The liquid burned as it went in. She cried out again. He lt go of her and she tried to run. The second guy was already standing in front of the door preventing her escape. The first was now calmly leaning against the door holding an open knife in his hands. He was smiling and stroking the blade. "You might not want to be standing when the chemicals in your veins take effect. Kagome saw the hall door and futily walked toward it. She knew it was a long shot, those doors were usually locked but she couldn't not try. With everystep she took her legs felt heavier. It felt like she was wearing lead shoes. Then her arms grew heavy and her torso and her head. She stumbled to the wall. She held on to it and tried to keep moving forward. It was getting harder and harder. She had a hand on the door and fell. She winced as her head hit the floor with a heavy clunk. She heard a cruel chuckling from the guy with the knife. "Why don't people ever listen to the man with the knife. Does your head hurt darling?"
"You're no man. You're one of Naraku's henchmen."
"Don't make me laugh little girl."
"Then you're with Takashin."
"Close enough."
"You are Takashin."
"Someone get ms. Higurashi a prize." He said clapping his hands and waling toward her with the knife.
"Bastard"
"Ouch. Don't do that to me. That really hurts. Oh it stings so bad." He crouched down next to her. "You're not going to be able to move anyhing love. No shaking your head running away. That stuff I put in you paralzed the muscles in you back, legs, arms, torso all you can do is talk and make faces at me." She sat quietly defeated fearful of what he was going to do to her. He took her right arm and grinned. She closed her eyes closing him out. "I have to admit I felt really sorr for you when I read your report. I feel kinda bad about doing this to you. But what kind of criminal would I be if I acted through my feelings? Now as I read it I got the understanding that you like the cuts better then the bruises." Kagome wanted to cry now but that would only prolong the pain she would go through. She knew her pain and sufferiing would feed him and make it worse for her. She clamped her eyes shut. Images threaening to surface. She felt the burn as the knife dug into her skin. He dragged it and wiped at her skin with something hard making her new wounds stings worse. He obviously had a pattern he was following across her arm. She saw his old distorted face grinning watching her pain, then she saw her mother crying as he took Kagome's arm and lead her away, She saw Souta's lost face, and then Miroku. Her father kept taking over their images wih his own and it hurt worse that anything Takashin could dish out. Memories of home cut through her thoughts like the blade hrough her flesh. There had never been a home and no there was a tentative home. But look how that famly is disrupted, her mother was in her home with her father, Souta was drifting in and out of a drug induced haze, Miroku was in rehab and Kagome was with her friend. The house itself was torn apart. Kagome only now thoug about the mther she always saw, her crying on he bed as he took Kagome. She tried to find a single time when her mother tried to stop it. Kagome remembered the first time it happened. She saw her mother lying there broken, he was already done with her and he was moving on the Kagome. She cried out to her mother. Called again and again. When it was over Kagome lay bruised and beaten her mother stood at the door staring at her with hollow eyes. She came to her and put her head in her lap, she stroked her hair and that was all. The tear burned as they left her eyes. For a second she forgot about the blade so it surprised her when she opened her eyes and saw Takshin working on her arm.
"You look like you're seeing me for the first time love." He said confused by her looks.
"I forgot about you." His face dropped.
"Yeah it's so easy to forget about the guy ovening up your skin." The second uy standing by the door was laughing. "Shut up over there." He growled miffed that he was forgotten. "Done." He said standing up angrily. He started to walk away.
"Hey!" Kagome called. "You don't know anything about what my father did to me. You know nthing about what my family turned into. So don't say you do." She said coldly. He stared at her.
"Sorry about this." He said. "I had no choice. I'm sorry." He looked back at her sadly and continued to make her way out. "If you live I promise I'll make it up to you." Kagome let out a chilling laugh. She couldn't stop it.
"Why would you do something like that?" She asked coldly but he was already out the door without another word. Kagome couldn't make herself care that she was slowly bleeding to death. Streams of blood were falling from her veins and all she felt was the newly aquired emptiness.
What's wrong, what's wrong now?
Too many, too many problems.
Don't know where she belongs, where she belongs.
She wants to go home, but nobody's home.
It's where she lies, broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.
Be strong, be strong now.
Too many, too many problems.
She wants to go home, but nobody's home.
It's where she lies, broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.
She wants to go home, but nobody's home.
It's where she lies, broken inside.
With no place to go, no place to go to dry her eyes.
Broken inside.
She's lost inside, lost inside...oh oh yeah
She's lost inside, lost inside...oh oh yeah
"What are we doing here, this isn't my problem." Kouga growled. Ayame punched him on the shoulder he shut up instantly.
"Ayame and Sango I want you to look in every girls' bathroom for Kagome, stay together don' split up no matter what okay." They nodded and ran off. Once they were gone Inuyasha turned to Kouga. "I need you help here. I sent the girls to do that because it was pointless and will keep tem out of harms way. You know as well as I do where Kagome would be. I need you to help me look through all the bathrooms for her. Please."
"Fine." They ran dwn the stairs and split up. A million thoughts were rushing through Inuyasha's head. He hoped he got to her in time. Before anything worse could happen to her. He shoved the first door open and pushed inside. There were a few guys at the urinals that glared at him. He pushed each stall open and left uming when he didn't find her. He repeated this at each one he visited. After about fifteen minutes his phone rang and he answered it quickly. "Inuyasha the bathroom on the east side of the 200 buiding is locked and there's soft singing from it."
"Call inside. " He heard Kouga doing through the other line.
Kouga pounded on the door. "Kagome can you hear me are you in there?" He strained his ear against the door tring to hear any sound. "Kagome it's Kouga are you in there." He listened again and he thought he heard a faint "Kouga." But he wasn't sure.
"I'm pretty sure she's in there, I think I heard her say my name. It was faint. Get over here."
Inuyasha ran across the quad to the 200 building. He saw Kouga messing with the lock and kicking at the door. He took his own metal tool out of his pocket and threw himself at the door. He shoved it in and moved it around until he heard the familiar click. The door swung open and they both rushed in. Inuyasha threw himself by her side. Kouga shut the door and locked it again.
"Kagome. Kagome can you hear me?" Inuyasha called fighting tears away.
"Inu.. yasha." She said weakly. He took her bloody arm and studied it. He stood up and pulled napkins out of the dispenser. He put them on Kagome's wrist and applied pressure. Kouga looked at what he was doing and got Inuyasha more paper towels. "Inuyasha." She called out.
"I'm right here Kagome."
"It was Takshin, he knew things about me no one but Sango knows about." Inuyasha continued to apply pressure to her wrist.
"In five minutes the bell rings and they start letting people out." Kouga said looking at his watch.
"Okay get me the rest of the towels and then go find Ayame and Sango. Tell them I'll take care of Kagome and bring her to Sango's when I can."
"Alright, you know they're gonna throw a fit with that plan."
"Yeah I know that's why I'm sending you." Inuyasha took the towels from Kouga.
"Hell na I ain't going."
"Fine let your girlfriend worry over one of her close friends. It's good for people to get so stressed out. Really there was an article in the New York Times about it."
"Fine I'll go for Ayame." Inuyasha smirked as he left then returned to Kagome. He felt helpless.
"Hold on Kagome just five minutes. You have to stay with me. Then I'll take care of you properly." Her eyes flickered, she wanted to sleep. Even wih Inuyasha next to her she still felt angry and alone.
"My mother."
"Your mother? She's with your grandpa."
"No, not that, she never tried."
"Don't worry about your mother."
"No dammit she never tried to help me ever. She just stared."
"Kagome can you walk? What else did he do to you?"
"He injected something and I can't move anything, all I can do is talk and 'make faces' so said takashin."
"Shit, it'll last for a few hours." Kagome grew quiet.
"She never…just watched…never helped." Tears streams down her temples. Inuyasha wiped at her eye gently and cupped her face again. His phone rang and he sighed.
"Hey."
"Inuyasha they opened the gates early and the gate right by you is unguarded plus no ones going out that way."
"Okay thanks."
"Sango sad she's gonna beat your face in when you bring Kagome over."
"Tell her I'm really scared."
"Ow… hey don't hit me… ow fine. Inuyasha! Damn you." Sango stole Kouga's phone.
"Hello Sango. Are you getting ready to kick my ass?"
"Don't patronize me cunt, you better take care of Kagome. If anything happens I'll cut your balls off."
"Oh that's low Sango. Low." He hung up on her and turned his phone off. He scooped Kagome up bridal style and took her to his car.
A/N- I wasn't going to stop here but I did. I just got back in and I got really freaked out cause we were sitting on the benches of a school and then we saw a helicopter and everyone was looking at nervously. It went away but then about five minutes later it comes back and there's a spotlight out and one guy runs but everyone else there yells at him. He runs and he had a fucking dime sack. We all rushed toward the cover thingyand it goes away. It was a little freaky. Last time that happened the helicopter was following us as we walked around the neighborhood. We really need to stop going to that damn school. Hope you enjoyed the chapter almot 5,000 words!